Ratcheting jaw for plier-type wrenches



Feb. 5, 1952 J. KEISER 2,584,353

RATCHETING JAW FOR PLIER-TYPE WRENCHES Filed June 17, 1949 JNVENTOR. JbH/v K5552 ATTae/va Patented Feb; 5, 1952 *Ni lfliEiD -strares.

' OLFZFICE RATCHETING J AW F QE' PIZIER TYP E WRENCHES 1 This invention "relates 'to' a jpli er-type wrench, and has for its principal object the provision of highly efiicient means which "will enable ''the wrench to-ratchetnpon'cylindrical' surfaces,'*such Another obj ect is to provide a "simple" ratcheting-device which will-automatically grip the pipe, and which will-operate without exerting a "crushing-actionoh the'pipe.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efiiciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a typical plier-type wrench, with the invention applied thereto, illustrating the ratcheting device in the gripping or turning position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the jaw portion of the wrench of Fig. 1, illustrating the ratcheting device in the ratcheting or returning position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the jaws of the wrench, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the wrench jaws, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail, perspective view of the improved ratcheting device employed in the improved wrench jaws.

In the drawing, typical parts of a plier-type wrench are illustrated and designated by numerals as follows: Upper handle IE1, lower handle H, toggle arm [2, fulcrum screw l3, and returning spring M.

The improved jaws for the illustrated type of wrench comprise a solid upper jaw l5 extending forwardly and downwardly from the forward extremity of the upper handle Hi, and a lower solid jaw it formed on a swinging jaw plate H. The plate I! is hingedly mounted on a hinge pin i8 within the upper handle ID, and is connected by means of a second hinge pin !9 to the forward extremity of the lower handle II. The spring I4 extends from a spring ear on the plate I! upwardly and rearwardly to a connection 2! within the upper handle Ill.

It can be seen that if the lower handle H be forced toward the upper handle Ill, the fulcrum pin 22 will cause the toggle arm 2 to pry against the extremity of the fulcrum screw l3 so as to swing thei-zpl'ate 1 iforwardly to cause the :lower jaw 13th approach theupp'erjaw 15. The degree fio'f separation =of th'e jaws can be adjusted bychanging the position of the fulcrum'screw l 3.

The improved ratcheting device comprises an arcuate iratchetingiifoot :23 :provided with an upstanding, semie'cylindrical hinge ear '24 having an opening 25 f0'rn'i8d -therethrough for receivinga hinge pinfzt. The1lowe'r arcuate'surface of the foot 23 is provided with transversally extending ratchet teeth 21.

The arcuate surface upon which the teeth 21 are formed is eccentric to the axis of the opening 25; that is, this surface is closer to the axis of the opening 25 at the heel of the foot 23 than at the toe thereof. The foot portion 23 is slightly wider than the upper jaw l5, and the ear 25 is narrower than this jaw.

The upper jaw is formed with an internal, semi-cylindrical notch 28 for receiving the rounded, semi-cylindrical upper extremity of the ear 24 so as to form a bearing for the latter. The two sides of the upper jaw extend downwardly at each side of the notch 28 to form arcuate bearing edges 29 which bear against the sides of the upper surface of the foot 23. The pin 26 simply holds the ear 24 in its notch. It does not act as a bearing for the ear, since the bearing is formed by the arcuate surface of the ear bearing in the arcuate notch 28, and by the sides of the foot 23 bearing against the arcuate bearing edges 29.

A U-shaped spring 3!] acts between a shoulder 3! in' the upper jaw and the upper surface of the toe portion of the foot 23 to constantly urge the ratchet member toward the position of Fig. 4. A substantially V-shaped, article-receiving notch 32 is formed in the lower jaw l6 below the ratcheting foot 21.

The wrench can be slipped over a cylindrical article, such as indicated at 33, by simply forcing the jaws over the article so that the latter will swing the ratcheting foot rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. If the handles be now swung in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, the eccentric surface of the ratcheting foot 23 will roll against the article 33, constantly increasing the pressure thereagainst due to the eccentricity of the surface, until sufficient grip has been obtained from the teeth 21 to rotate the article 33.

If the handles be now swung in the direction of the arrow B of Fig. 2, the ratcheting foot will swingrearwardly, releasing the article, as shown in Fig. 2, and allowing it to rotate against 3 the smooth surfaces of the V-shaped notch 32 to a new gripping pl sition.

While a specif c form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a plier-type wrench of the type having an upper and a lower jaw, of means for ratcheting a cylindrical article between said jaws, comprising: a ratcheting foot; a rounded hinge ear arising from said foot and resting in a similarly rounded receiving socket in the upper jaw; a hinge pin passing through said upper jaw and through said hinge-ear; a lower arcuate surface on said foot, said arcuate sur-' ting foot.

face being eccentric of the axis of said hinge pin;

said foot and resting in a similarly rounded receiving socket in the upper jaw; a hinge pin passing through said upper jaw and through said JOHN KEISER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

